AN  I 


3 

032 
771 


iven  Year 
trvey 

Rochester 

Public 

Library 


MAYOR    HIRAM    H.    EDGERTON 
FOUNDER    OF    THE    ROCHESTER    PUBLIC    LIBRARY 


Seven  Year  Survey 

of  the 

Rochester  Public  Library 
1912-1919 


Rochester  Public   Library 

Rochester,  New  York 

1920 


I 


Rochester  Public  Library 

Organized  under  legislative  act  approved  June  15,  1911, 
amending  city  charter.  Amendments  to  the  law  were  made 
April  6,  1914  and  May  9,  1916.  It  is  governed  by  a  Board  of 
seven  Trustees,  five  appointed  by  the  Mayor,  one  each  year  for  a 
term  of  five  years,  and  two  ex-officio  members,  the  Mayor  and  the 
President  of  the  Board  of  Education.  There  are  standing  com- 
mittees on  Finance,  Buildings,  Books  and  Administration. 

Board  of  Trustees 

HIRAM  H.  EDGERTON,  Mayor,  ex-officio 

CHARLES  F.  WRAY,  President  Board  of  Education,  ex-officio  exp^s 

CHARLES  H.  WILTSIE 1921 

EDWARD  G.  MINER 1922 

A.  M.  O'NEILL 1923 

CLARENCE  A.  BARBOUR 1924 

RUSH  RHEES 1925 

Former  Trustees 

CHARLES  C.  ALBERTSON 1911-13 

J.  P.  B.  DUFFY,  President,  Board  of  Education  .      .      .     1911-13 
J.  WARRANT  CASTLEMAN,  President,  Board  of  Education  1914-19 

Officers  and  Committees 

HIRAM  H.  EDGERTON President 

WILLIAM  F.  YUST Secretary 

Administration  Committee 
RUSH  RHEES  CLARENCE  A.  BARBOUR  A.  M.  O'NEILL 

Book  Committee 
EDWARD  G.  MINER          RUSH  RHEES        CLARENCE  A.  BARBOUR 

Building  Committee 
CHARLES  F.  WRAY       EDWARD  G.  MINER     CHARLES  H.  WILTSIE 

Finance  Committee 
CHARLES  H.  WILTSIE        A.  M.  O'NEILL  CHARLES  F.  WRAY 


Report  of  the  President 

To  the  Common  Council  of  the  City  of  Rochester: 

GENTLEMEN:  A  summary  of  the  work  of  the  Rochester 
Public  Library  system  from  its  beginning  in  1912  to  the  end  of 
last  year  has  been  prepared  by  Librarian  William  F.  Yust  and 
contains  valuable  data  and  interesting  comment  relative  to  the 
seven  years  of  progress. 

In  inferentially  expressing  sorrow  at  the  lack  of  a  central 
library  the  Librarian  writes  :  "Seven  years  Jacob  served  for 
Rachel  and  then  he  got  Leah."  Mr.  Yust  should  find  encourage- 
ment in  the  biblical  statement  that  after  Jacob  had  served  seven 
years  more,  he  got  Rachel. 

The  wisdom  and  unselfish  service  of  the  public  spirited  gentle- 
men who  comprise  the  Board  of  Trustees,  and  the  energy  and 
genius  of  the  Librarian,  have  provided  a  library  system  for  the 
people  of  Rochester  which  is  a  credit  to  themselves  and  to  the 
city.  As  long  as  these  fine  citizens  serve  the  people  a  healthy 
development  of  the  system  is  assured.  I  take  this  opportunity 
of  thanking  them  for  their  work  of  the  last  seven  years  and  trust 
they  will  continue  to  give  of  their  time  and  efforts  for  many  years 
to  come. 

Respectfully  yours 

HIRAM  H.  EDGERTON,  President 


Report  of  the  Librarian 

To  the  Board  of  Trustees  of  the  Rochester  Public  Library: 

GENTLEMEN:  Your  Librarian  herewith  submits  a  summary 
of  the  work  of  the  library  from  its  beginning  to  December  31,  1919. 
Annual  reports  were  printed  separately  for  the  first  four  years. 
The  fifth  and  sixth  reports  were  printed  in  one.  None  have  been 
printed  since  then.  This  summary  therefore  repeats  certain 
data  included  in  previously  issued  reports  and  it  publishes  for  the 
first  time  leading  facts  of  the  sixth,  seventh  and  eighth  annual 
reports. 


The  Rochester  Public  Library 

A  Seven  Year  Survey 
1912-1919 

An  Allusion 

Seven  years  Jacob  served  for  Rachel,  and  then  he  got  Leah. 
From  the  beginning  your  Librarian  was  captivated  by  the 
vision  of  a  great,  comprehensive  library  system  for  Rochester. 
After  seven  years  we  have  seven  branch  libraries  and  a  number 
of  smaller  distributing  centers.  We  are  still  waiting  for  a 
central  library  and  for  seven  more  branches  and  for  suitable 
buildings  for  all  the  libraries. 

Nevertheless  Leah  was  a  fine  girl  and  her  matrimonial  record 
was  one  that  maketh  not  ashamed.  Likewise  the  Rochester 
Public  Library,  what  there  is  of  it,  has  a  creditable  record.  The 
nature  and  extent  of  that  credit  is  to  be  shown  in  this  survey, 
which  covers  the  entire  period  since  the  beginning  of  the  Library. 

An  Unanswered  Question 

Why  was  Rochester  so  late  in  starting  a  public  library?  is  a 
question  often  asked.  A  library  appears  when  a  community 
begins  to  assert  its  claim  to  education  and  culture.  Then  like 
other  civic  institutions  it  grows  with  the  expansion  of  the  city. 
Thus  in  most  large  cities  the  public  library  has  a  history  extend- 
ing over  twenty-five  to  fifty  years.  That  a  city  with  such  a 
civic,  commercial  and  educational  reputation  should  have  been 
so  long  without  such  a  library  was  one  of  its  chief  anomalies. 

During  the  city's  life  of  a  hundred  years,  numerous  efforts 
had  been  made.  These  resulted  in  libraries  similar  to  those  in 
other  places,  but  they  did  not  evolve  as  elsewhere  into  the 
modern  municipally  controlled,  tax  supported,  popular  insti- 
tution. Finally  after  a  long  period  of  occasional  but  unorgan- 
ized agitation  the  subject  was  taken  up  by  the  Mayor  of  the 
city. 


A   SEVEN    YEAR   SURVEY 


Mayor  Edgerton 

Mayor  Hiram  H.  Edgerton  at  the  beginning  of  his  long  and 
successful  administration  voiced  the  need  of  such  a  library  and 
proceeded  towards  its  establishment.  In  1911  he  secured  the 
necessary  legislation  in  the  form  of  an  amendment  to  the  city 
charter.  The  same  year  he  appointed  the  first  Board  of  Trustees 
and  the  next  year  the  first  branch  library  was  opened.  Thus 
Mayor  Edgerton's  initiative  followed  by  his  consistent  interest 
and  support  have  earned  for  him  the  reputation  of  being  the 
Father  of  the  Rochester  Public  Library. 

The  history  of  the  public  library  movement  in  Rochester 
and  the  steps  which  led  to  the  establishment  of  the  present 
system  are  given  in  detail  in  the  Librarian's  first  annual  report. 

The  Board  of  Trustees  in  entering  upon  their  duties  found  a 
large  need  and  a  small  appropriation.  In  most  cities  where  the 
library  has  grown  up  with  the  city  a  large  central  library  has 
developed  first.  As  the  city  spread,  certain  sections  too  distant 
from  the  center  were  provided  with  branch  libraries.  But  here 
the  erection  of  a  central  library  would  have  required  several 
years  time  and  a  large  building  fund.  So  it  was  decided  to 
reverse  the  usual  order  of  development  and  begin  with  branch 
libraries. 

Branch  Libraries 

In  the  absence  of  a  building  fund  even  for  branches  a  begin- 
ning was  made  in  temporary  quarters.  These  proved  very 
satisfactory.  They  really  worked  so  well  that  they  are  still  in 
use  as  originally  planned. 

Meanwhile  six  other  branches  have  been  opened,  all  in 
temporary  quarters.  At  present  there  are  three  in  city-owned 
buildings:  one  at  Exposition  Park  in  a  building  which  formerly 
belonged  to  a  state  reform  school,  one  in  the  Municipal  Building, 
which  houses  offices  of  several  other  city  departments,  and  one 
at  Charlotte  in  an  old  fire  house. 

The  four  rented  buildings  are  of  a  well  known  commercial 
type,  having  living  rooms  on  the  second  floor  while  the  first  is 
used  for  business.  Three  of  the  four  have  been  built  for  library 
purposes,  the  Library  specifying  the  general  location,  material 
and  first  floor  plans  to  meet  its  own  needs.  Leases  are  for  five 
years,  with  privilege  of  renewal  for  the  same  length  of  time  at 
the  same  rent,  which  varies  from  $1,500  to  $2,000  a  year. 


A    SEVEN    YEAR    SfRVEV 


Disadvantages  of  this  plan  are  1)  lack  of  architectural 
beauty;  2)  difficulty  of  extension;  3)  tendency  to  temporize; 
4)  undesirable  conditions  of  tenantry.  Advantages  are  1)  it 
provides  for  establishing  libraries  without  large  initial  outlay 
for  buildings;  2)  it  permits  experimenting  with  regard  to  the 
best  location,  type  of  building  needed  in  a  given  section,  etc.; 
3)  it  is  economical  of  operation;  4)  it  provides  splendid  adver- 
tising opportunities.  The  building  abutting  on  the  sidewalk  of 
a  busy  street  showing  the  library  in  operation  at  close  range 
presents  a  stronger  appeal  than  does  a  library  set  back  from  the 
street. 

Staff 

The  Library  has  been  fortunate  in  securing  an  excellent 
staff  of  workers.  All  appointments  are  made  in  accordance 
with  the  rules  of  the  municipal  civil  service. 

The  staff  includes  2  in  the  administration  office,  5  in  book 
ordering  and  cataloging,  7  in  work  with  children,  schools  and 
stations,  18  in  branches,  total  staff  32;  also  8  janitors  and  clean- 
ers, total  full  time  employees  40. 

Large  use,  particularly  in  branches,  is  made  of  high  school 
and  college  students  working  part  time,  including  Sundays  and 
holidays.  The  total  number  of  these  is  30,  their  combined 
services  equalling  approximately  9  on  full  time. 

Of  the  regular  staff  18  are  college  graduates,  8  have  had  two 
years  of  formal  education  above  the  high  school  and  4  are  high 
school  graduates;  15  have  had  a  year  or  more  of  library  school 
training,  1  has  attended  a  summer  library  school. 

Regular  meetings  of  the  entire  staff  are  held  every  two  weeks. 
These  alternate  with  round  table  meetings  of  those  engaged  in 
work  with  children,  schools  and  stations.  Training  classes  are 
conducted  for  those  who  have  not  had  library  instruction. 
These  are  of  two  distinct  types,  one  for  pages  and  one  for 
assistants. 


A    SEVEN    YEAR    SURVEY  11 


Finance 

The  following  annual  appropriations  have  been  made  by 
the  city. 

1911  SI  0,000. 00  1915  $51,080.00 

1912  31,240.00                 1916  61,300.00 

1913  36,000.00                 1917  72,584.09 

1914  50,000.00                 1918  83,931.70 
1919  98,050.97  (Includes   receipts  from    fines.) 

In  1916  the  city  charter  was  amended  to  provide  that  the 
annual  estimate  for  library  purposes  in  the  tax  budget  must  be 
not  less  than  three  one-hundredths  of  one  per  cent,  of  the  total 
assessed  value  of  the  property  appearing  on  the  last  annual 
assessment  rolls  of  the  city.  The  minimum  was  appropriated 
for  two  years  but  this  year  a  substantial  increase  was  made. 

Receipts  for  1919 

Local  taxation $  94,000.00 

State  grants 600.00 

Fines 4,050.97 

Other  sources 55 . 86 

Unexpended  balance 3,060.45 


Total $101,767.28 

Analyses  of  Expenditures  for  1919 
Analysis  by  Function 

$97,234.69 


Regulative  and  Executive  Service 7,269.21 

Proprietary  Service 23,251.32 

Book  Circulation  and  Reference  Service 66,714.16 


Analysis  by  Character 

$97,234.69 

Operation 54,670.93 

Upkeep 4,842.11 

Fixed  Charges         7,558.00 

Capital  Outlay 30,045.90 

Contingency 117.75 


12  THE    ROCHESTER    PUBLIC    LIBRARY 


Analysis  by  Object 

S97.234.69 

Personal  Services 47,573.71 

Services  other  than  Personal — 

Binding      399.41 

Rebinding  and  Lettering 2,460.09 

Mending  and  Resewing         1,217.03 

Printing 1,301.67 

Postage 350.00 

Freight,  Cartage,  Express 423.87 

Telephones 420.47 

Repairs  and  Improvements  to  Buildings  and  Equipment     .  874.59 

Miscellaneous 791 . 76 

Materials  and  Supplies — 

Cards,  Paper 822.05 

Office  Supplies 115.26 

Book  Mending  Supplies 164.85 

Coal,  Gas,  Electricity 2,173.87 

Heat  and  Light  Supplies 141.94 

Janitor's  Supplies 367 . 38 

Miscellaneous 455.01 

Equipment — 

Books 18,683.01 

Pamphlets 59.33 

Periodicals 2,204.97 

Catalog  Cards 390.14 

Prints,  Drawings,  Photographs 95.88 

Furniture  and  Fixtures          6,068.19 

Heat  and  Light  Equipment 844.68 

Miscellaneous 195.82 

Additions  and  Alterations  to  Buildings 1,099.71 

Rent 7,540.00 

Cost  of  Library  Service 

The  total  expenditures  for  the  entire  period  since  the  begin- 
ning of  the  library  have  been  $499,376.37.  Our  inventory  of 
assets  on  hand  at  the  end  of  the  period  covered  was  $150,610.62, 
making  the  net  cost  of  operation  $348,765.75  for  the  circulation 
of  5,059,487  volumes,  or  $7.60  for  each  100  volumes  circulated. 
According  to  the  records  of  the  state  education  department  at 
Albany  the  average  cost  of  operation  for  all  the  libraries  of  the 
state  is  $14.87  for  each  100  volumes  of  circulation. 

The  1919  report  of  the  Public  Library  of  the  District  of 
Columbia  gives  a  table  of  statistics  for  33  of  the  largest  public 
libraries  in  the  United  States.  This  shows  that  the  average  ex- 
penditure of  all  of  these  libraries  for  the  last  year  was  $13.20  per 
100  volumes  circulated. 


A    SEVEN    YEAR    SURVEY  13 

Books 

In  the  first  annual  report  of  the  library  it  was  pointed  out 
that  the  institutional  libraries  of  Rochester  contained  about 
three  hundred  thousand  volumes  and  that  Rochester  was  there- 
fore not  a  city  without  books.  But  of  those  books,  only  20  per 
cent,  were  for  circulation  and  only  five  per  cent,  for  children. 
The  Public  Library  therefore  proposed  to  exert  its  chief  efforts 
toward  filling  these  two  great  needs  first,  namely  books  for 
home  use  and  books  for  children.  Its  development  has  followed 
these  two  general  lines  of  activity.  Each  library  except  the 
Business  Branch  consists  mainly  of  books  for  home  reading  and 
of  books  of  special  merit  and  suitability  for  children. 


Volumes  in  the  Libraries 


Exposition  Park  Branch 
Genesee  Branch  . 
Monroe  Branch 
Lincoln  Branch  . 
Goodman  Street  Branch 
Charlotte  Branch 
Business  Branch 
Sub-Branches  and  Stations 


Total  Branches  and  Stations 

Grade  Libraries         . 
Playground  Libraries     ... 

Grand  Total 


Adult 

11,474 

9,899 

9,695 

7,783 

7,641 

1,522 

2,979 

13.870 


Juvenile 
4,208 
5,042 
4,335 
7,229 
3,561 
651 

6,209 


64,863          31,235 

15,885 
983 


Total 

15,682 

14,941 

14,030 

15,012 

11,202 

2,173 

2,979 

20,079 

96,098 

15,885 
983 


64,863          48,103          112,966 


In  book  selection  the  chief  object  is  to  secure  wide  use, 
rather  than  a  wide  range  of  subjects.  A  book  which  is  chosen 
for  one  branch  is  placed  in  all  branches  and  a  book  which  is  not 
suited  for  all  branches  is  not  placed  in  any.  Of  course  some 
exceptions  must  be  made  and  these  exceptions  increase  as  the 
collection  and  the  book  fund  grow  larger. 

Among  the  total  of  96,098  volumes  in  the  branches  and 
stations,  there  are  only  16,824  titles.  The  various  collections 
are  therefore  largely  duplicates  of  one  another.  The  Business 
Branch  is  one  exception  and  idle  books  are  another.  When 
books  are  selected  for  a  new  branch  those  which  stand  idle  on 
the  shelves  of  other  branches  are  omitted,  however  excellent 
they  may  be.  Only  those  are  included  which  give  promise  of 
continued  usefulness. 


14  THE    ROCHESTER    PUBLIC    LIBRARY 

The  policy  pursued  is  in  accordance  with  the  motto  "The 
best  books  for  the  largest  number  at  the  least  cost."  It  costs 
less  to  buy,  classify,  catalog  and  circulate  seven  copies  of  a  more 
popular  book  than  a  single  copy  each  of  seven  less  popular 
books.  The  seven  copies  furthermore  reach  a  larger  number  of 
people  than  the  single  copies  would.  The  merits  of  the  plan 
therefore  are  economy  of  administration  and  enlargement  of 
results  so  far  as  these  can  be  measured  in  terms  of  circulation. 

Gifts 

Grateful  acknowledgement  is  made  of  many  gifts  of  various 
kinds.  Some  of  these  are  suited  for  immediate  use  and  are  sent 
to  the  branches,  while  some  are  of  the  kind  which  belongs  only 
in  a  Central  Library.  All  such  gifts  are  very  acceptable  and  are 
added  to  our  growing  collection  of  over  4,000  volumes  which  are 
stored  toward  the  Central  Library  which  is  to  be. 

In  addition  there  are  1638  volumes  of  bound  magazines  and 
1266  unbound.  Included  are  some  almost  complete  sets  of 
standard  magazines  such  as  are  listed  in  the  usual  indexes. 

Registration  of  Borrowers 

Under  this  heading  the  effort  is  to  show  how  many  people 
use  the  library,  but  the  total  number  cannot  be  given.  A  mem- 
bership card  is  good  for  three  years,  after  which  it  must  be 
renewed  or  removed  from  the  files.  Such  short  lived  cards 
cause  more  work  but  they  produce  more  reliable  and  up-to-date 
records.  This  record  is  of  cards  now  in  force. 


Exposition  Park  Branch 
Genesee  Branch 
Monroe  Branch 
Lincoln  Branch 
Goodman  Street  Branch 
Charlotte  Branch    . 
Business  Branch 


6,826 

9,420 

11,516 

6,337 

8,461 

762 

971 


Total 44,293 

In  the  seven  sub-branches  3,500  persons  are  enrolled.  At 
the  deposit  stations,  where  the  issuing  of  books  is  done  by 
volunteers,  no  record  of  borrowers  is  kept.  In  the  public 
schools,  there  are  class  room  libraries  in  grades  three  to  eight,  in 
which  there  are  18,195  pupils.  Many  of  these  are  included  in 
the  juvenile  registration  at  branches.  Of  the  reading  and 
reference  room  users  some  are  registered  and  some  are  not. 
Registration  figures  given  therefore  are  indicative  but  not 
conclusive  with  regard  to  the  proportion  of  the  population  which 
is  being  reached  by  the  library. 


A   SEVEN    YEAR   SURVEY 


Circulation 

There  has  been  a  steady  increase  in  the  number  of  agencies 
for  the  distribution  of  books  and  consequently  in  the  number 
of  books  circulated.  Last  year  1,085,182  volumes  were  issued 
for  home  use  from  7  branches,  8  sub-branches,  102  stations, 
545  class  rooms  and  11  playgrounds.  Of  this  circulation  44% 
were  books  for  children.  Below  is  shown  the  circulation  from 
year  to  year,  making  a  total  of  5,059,487. 


Year 

1913 

1914 

1915 

1916 

1917 

1918 

1919 

Vols.  issued 

273,753 

404,270 

633,811 

741,918 

874,740 

982,771 

1,085,182 

This  circulation  is  divided  among  the  various  agencies  as 
follows : 


Year 
1913 
1914 
1915 
1916 
1917 
1918 
1919 


Branches 

87,951 
175,106 
367,658 
465,734 
570,910 
687,410 
684,499 


Sub-branches 
and  Stations 

53,210 

81,826 

107,072 

92,236 

94,364 

105,713 

182,160 


Total     3,054,219 


716,581 


Grade 
Libraries 

132,592 

Playground 
Libraries 

147,338 

154,158 
173,297 
198,091 
177,840 
201,579 

4,923 
10,651 
11,375 
11,808 
16,944 

1,232,986         55,701 


Sunday  and  Holiday  Circulation 

After  a  trial  of  several  months  it  was  decided  to  open  the 
branch  libraries  every  day  in  the  year  both  for  reading  and 
reference  and  for  the  circulation  of  books.  This  includes  every 
one  of  the  52  Sundays  and  all  of  the  9  legal  holidays.  This 
decision  was  warranted  by  the  brief  experiment  at  the  time  and 
the  results  of  each  succeeding  year  have  given  added  evidence 
of  its  correctness.  Since  this  service  was  started  its  use  has 
grown  more  regularly  and  more  rapidly  than  the  week-day 
service  at  the  branches. 


Year 

1915 

1916 

1917 

1918 

1919 

Total 

Vols.  issued 

15,672 

29,159 

43,272 

57,998 

63,602 

209,703 

16 


THE    ROCHESTER    PUBLIC    LIBRARY 


Circulation  Chart  by  years 


1919 


and 
i  — 

departments 

Branches 

Stations 
Schools 
Playgrounds 

"TC" 

1918 

3 

3— 
4— 

1917 

3 

1916 

3 

2 

1916 

3 

3 

*—  — 

^^mm 

1914 

•-•— 
•^—  — 

2 

1 

1 

L913 

3 

1 

•••i 
3 

^—  ^^ 

2 

^m^m 

1 

1 

2 

1 

—  — 

1 

A   SEVEN    YEAR    SURVEY  17 

Genesee  Branch  Library 
1913-1919 

The  Genesee  Branch  of  the  Rochester  Public  Library  was 
opened  October  1,  1913  at  149  Cady  Street  near  No.  4  School. 
A  three-year  lease  was  taken  on  a  two-story  frame  building, 
24x90  feet,  which  was  formerly  occupied  by  a  pipe  and  blower 
factory.  After  many  alterations  and  much  redecorating  the 
building  was  converted  into  a  cozy  little  library,  the  reading 
rooms  on  the  ground  floor  and  an  assembly  hall  and  staff  rooms 
on  the  second  floor. 

The  second  year,  in  order  to  bring  the  library's  existence  to 
the  attention  of  every  home  in  the  district,  a  house-to-house 
advertising  campaign  was  conducted.  About  8,000  slips  calling 
attention  to  the  privileges  offered  were  distributed  over  a  dis- 
trict two  miles  square  and  also  through  a  number  of  local  factories. 
Several  of  the  stores  in  the  neighborhood  assisted  by  enclosing  a 
slip  with  each  delivery  of  goods. 

The  growth  of  the  library  was  so  rapid  that  before  the 
expiration  of  the  lease  new  quarters  were  being  thought  of  and 
in  1916  a  two-story  brick  building  was  erected  at  707  Main 
Street  West  for  commercial  purposes.  The  library  secured  a 
lease  on  the  first  floor  (approximately  4,000  square  feet)  and  the 
second  floor  was  made  into  apartments.  Considerable  new 
equipment,  a  new  delivery  desk  and  entirely  new  shelving  was 
installed  and  the  quarters  were  ready  March  1917.  The  task 
of  moving  8,000  volumes  and  equipment  over  night  without 
cessation  of  circulation  to  the  public  was  attempted.  The 
Branch  closed  intact  at  9:00  o'clock  Tuesday  evening  in  its  old 
quarters  and  at  2:00  o'clock  the  following  day  it  was  opened 
with  all  its  advantages  available  in  the  new  quarters.  With 
twice  the  space  and  a  location  on  a  main  thoroughfare  the  cir- 
culation and  other  use  of  the  library  increased  remarkably. 

The  entrance  is  on  the  side  and  the  delivery  desk  in  the 
center,  dividing  the  room  almost  equally  between  the  adult  and 
the  children's  departments.  A  glass  partition  four  feet  high 
placed  above  the  shelving  separates  the  two  departments, 
reduces  the  noise  from  the  children's  room  to  a  minimum  and  at 
the  same  time  preserves  the  open  aspect  of  one  room.  All 
books  are  returned  at  the  same  place  but  separate  charging 
places  and  exits  are  provided  for  children. 


A   SEVEN    YEAR   SURVEY  19 


A  most  effective  advertising  feature  is  the  large  front  display 
window  on  a  level  with  the  street.  Here  exhibits  and  picture 
bulletins  with  appropriate  collections  of  books  are  displayed  as  a 
sort  of  index  to  what  may  be  found  within.  Bulletin  boards 
are  also  a  much  used  feature  for  advertising  inside  the  library. 

There  is  a  complete  dictionary  catalogue  of  all  books  in  the 
Branch  and  also  a  separate  one  in  the  children's  department. 
These  are  prepared  by  the  catalogue  department  and  filing  of 
cards  for  new  accessions  is  the  only  part  of  this  work  done  at 
the  Branch.  A  shelf  list  is  also  supplied  for  staff  use.  An 
inventory  has  been  taken  each  year  showing  an  alarming  number 
of  books  missing  both  adult  and  juvenile.  In  the  adult  room  the 
fiction  is  arranged  alphabetically  by  authors  and  the  non-fiction, 
classified  according  to  the  Dewey  decimal  system,  is  shelved  by 
subject.  In  the  children's  room  the  so-called  ribbon  system  is 
used. 

Some  80  magazines  are  subscribed  for,  and  after  the  current 
number,  are  circulated  to  patrons  the  same  as  books.  A  few  of 
the  most  valuable  for  reference  are  bound  and  all  others  that  are 
indexed  in  the  Reader's  Guide  are  kept  tied  up  in  volumes  in 
the  magazine  room  in  the  basement.  Here  also  are  put  all  the 
books  that  need  mending  and  every  two  weeks  someone  comes 
from  headquarters  to  mend  them. 

Besides  the  Branch  librarian,  the  staff  consists  of  a  first 
assistant,  a  trained  children's  librarian,  several  part  time  people, 
pages  and  a  janitor.  The  Sunday  and  holiday  work  is  done 
entirely  by  college  students. 

A  children's  story  hour  has  been  conducted  by  the  children's 
librarian  once  a  week  during  the  school  season  and  various 
exhibits  and  contests  have  been  held  to  keep  the  interest  of  the 
children.  Among  the  most  successful  have  been  the  poetry 
club,  travel  contest,  biography  contest,  summer  reading  club, 
exhibit  of  dolls  of  all  nations  made  by  the  girls  and  an  airplane 
and  model  exhibit  made  by  the  boys. 

The  public  in  general  have  been  most  appreciative  of  the 
library.  Especially  have  comments  been  made  on  the  open 
shelf  system,  on  the  generous  number  of  books  allowed  on  a 
card,  on  our  attractive  quarters  including  the  children's  room, 
on  the  fairly  well  rounded  reference  collection,  and  on  the  fact 
that  the  library  is  free  to  all,  even  those  outside  the  city  limits. 

MARION  D.  MOSHER,  Branch  Librarian 


A    SEVEN    YEAR    SURVEY  21 

Lincoln  Branch  Library 
1915-1919 

The  Lincoln  Branch  was  opened  September  1,  1915.  It  is 
located  on  the  first  floor  of  a  brick  building  on  the  corner  of 
Joseph  Avenue  and  Sellinger  Street.  The  floor  space  covers 
about  4,000  square  feet,  with  the  entrance  on  Sellinger  Street 
side,  and  with  large  plate  glass  windows  extending  across  the 
front  of  Joseph  Avenue  side. 

The  room  is  well  lighted  and  ventilated.  The  chairs,  tables 
and  desks,  and  all  shelving  are  of  light  quartered  oak.  The  main 
charging  desk  is  located  near  the  entrance  and  divides  the  room 
into  the  Adult  and  Juvenile  departments.  Low  book  shelves 
about  4  feet  high  are  placed  across  the  front  or  Joseph  Avenue 
side  and  this  has  proved  an  effective  way  of  advertising,  as 
passers-by  are  continually  stopping  to  read  the  book  titles  which 
are  easily  seen  from  the  street.  There  is  also  a  show  case  in 
which  exhibits  and  special  collections  of  books  are  placed  from 
time  to  time.  Two  large  birch  bark  boxes  filled  with  ferns  are 
placed  on  the  low  shelving  near  the  front  windows.  These 
ferns  have  grown  most  profusely  and  have  added  a  great  deal 
to  the  attractiveness  of  the  room  both  within  and  without.  At 
night  the  library  is  the  one  bright  and  clean  spot  on  an  other- 
wise dingy  and  unattractive  thoroughfare. 

The  district  in  which  the  library  is  located  is  one  of  the  most 
thickly  populated  in  the  city.  Many  nationalities  are  repre- 
sented, with  Jews,  Italians  and  Poles  predominating.  Of  the 
various  agencies  working  to  spread  the  spirit  of  America  amongst 
the  new  comers  from  other  lands,  the  library  has  co-operated 
with  the  night  classes  at  the  Public  Schools,  the  Social  Settle- 
ment House  on  Baden  Street,  the  classes  for  foreign  women 
conducted  under  the  supervision  of  the  State,  and  with  the 
Y.  W.  C.  A.  Community  House  on  Hudson  Avenue. 

There  have  also  been  many  individual  cases  in  which  the 
library  has  been  able  to  give  encouragement  and  help  to  those 
learning  the  English  language.  Many  parents  who  have  felt 
shy  and  strange  in  coming  to  the  library  have  been  reached 
through  the  children.  Slips  printed  in  Yiddish  inviting  the 
parents  to  come  to  the  library  have  been  taken  home  by  the 
children  and  the  results  have  been  successful  and  gratifying. 
It  is  a  great  satisfaction  to  work  with  the  New  Americans,  for 
they  are  for  the  most  part  hard  working  people  who  art-  ambitious 


22  THE    ROCHESTER    PUBLIC    LIBRARY 

and  eager  to  improve  themselves  in  their  work,  and  they  come 
to  the  library  with  a  definite  purpose  in  mind. 

The  Branch  was  opened  with  7,372  new  books.  At  present 
there  are  7,783  adult  and  7,229  juvenile,  making  a  total  of  15,012. 
In  the  juvenile  circulation  the  percentages  of  fiction  and  non- 
fiction  books  drawn  for  home  use  are  about  even.  In  the  adult 
circulation,  fiction  has  the  highest  percentage,  with  literature, 
history,  foreign  books,  useful  arts,  and  sociology,  being  the  most 
popular  of  the  non-fiction  and  following  in  this  order.  The 
juvenile  percentage  of  the  total  number  of  books  circulated  is 
56%  and  the  adult  44%. 

The  Branch  subscribes  for  90  magazines.  The  most  popular 
ones  are  duplicated  for  immediate  circulation  and  all  back 
numbers  of  the  others  are  also  circulated.  Three  magazines  are 
allowed  on  each  borrower's  card  besides  two  fiction  and  any 
number  of  non-fiction. 

The  juvenile  books  are  arranged  according  to  the  ribbon 
system,  that  is,  the  non-fiction  being  arranged  on  the  first  two 
shelves  with  the  fiction  arranged  on  the  lower  two  shelves.  The 
adult  books  are  arranged  on  the  shelves  by  classes,  with  the 
fiction  covering  one  side  of  the  room  and  the  non-fiction  on  the 
other  sides.  The  foreign  books  are  shelved  in  a  separate  section 
together  with  the  books  on  learning  English  and  with  easy 
books  for  New  Americans.  Special  collections  of  books  on 
timely  subjects  are  placed  about  the  room  with  picture  posters 
calling  attention  to  them. 

The  work  of  the  Branch  is  carried  on  by  three  full  time 
librarians  and  student  help  wThich  varies  according  to  the  busy 
and  dull  times  of  the  year.  The  Sunday  and  holiday  work  is 
done  entirely  by  students.  The  Adult  Department  is  open 
from  2  to  9  p.  m.  and  all  Sundays  and  holidays.  The  Juvenile 
Department  is  open  from  2  to  8  p.  m.  from  October  to  May, 
and  from  2  to  6  p.  m.  during  June,  July,  August  and  September, 
and  closed  all  Sundays  and  holidays. 

The  work  with  the  children  is  of  great  importance.  The 
teachers  of  the  schools  in  the  vicinity,  both  public  and  parochial, 
have  shown  a  fine  spirit  of  co-operation.  The  average  daily 
circulation  in  the  Juvenile  Department  is  260,  running  as  high 
as  600  on  busiest  days.  On  account  of  the  crowded  condition 
during  the  busy  months,  it  has  been  found  necessary  to  exclude 
all  children  below  the  third  grade  during  the  week,  admitting 
them  only  on  Saturday,  which  has  come  to  be  known  as  "Picture 


A   SEVEN   YEAR   SURVEY  23 


Book  Day."  On  the  two  busiest  days  of  the  week,  Monday 
and  Friday,  it  has  been  necessary  to  exclude  all  children  who 
have  not  cards  in  the  library,  admitting  only  those  who  come  to 
take  out  books. 

A  Summer  Reading  Club  was  started  during  the  summer  of 
1918,  to  encourage  the  children  to  read  during  their  vacation. 
Special  lists  of  books  were  printed  for  the  different  grades,  and 
at  the  end  of  the  summer  an  engraved  certificate  was  given  to 
each  child  who  had  read  and  reported  satisfactorily  on  ten  books. 
The  club  was  very  successful  and  the  library  plans  to  continue 
it  each  summer. 

On  account  of  lack  of  an  appropriate  room  the  Branch  has 
not  been  able  to  hold  any  story-hours  for  children. 

The  problem  of  discipline  in  both  departments  has  been  an 
important  one,  but  the  plan  of  having  just  rules  and  keeping 
them  respected  has  been  sufficient  to  take  care  of  any  difficulties 
which  have  so  far  arisen. 

The  pleasures  of  working  in  this  Branch  have  been  many. 
It  is  a  satisfaction  to  feel  that  we  are  doing  an  important  work 
with  the  young  people,  and  that  we  are  a  link  in  the  work  of 
Americanization  in  the  neighborhood.  Interesting  opportunities 
seem  to  be  ahvays  present  and  it  is  a  joy  to  work  with  youth 
and  to  feel  their  vitality  and  eagerness  to  learn  and  succeed.  In 
spite  of  rather  strict  discipline,  there  seems  to  be  no  feeling  of' 
resentment  toward  the  librarians,  but  rather  a  feeling  of  goodwill 
and  co-operation. 

The  present  quarters  have  been  adequate  thus  far,  but  the 
time  will  soon  come  when  a  larger  building  with  an  auditorium 
seating  at  least  500,  with  a  special  Story  Hour  room  and  Club 
Rooms  and  larger  rooms  for  the  Children's  Department,  will  be 
necessary  if  the  Branch  is  to  grow  and  develop  as  it  should.  It 
is  to  be  hoped  that  an  "Enlarged  Program"  for  the  Rochester 
Public  Library  may  be  realized  in  the  near  future,  which  will 
bring  about  larger  and  better  buildings  for  the  branches,  and 
larger  salaries  which  will  attract  more  trained  and  experienced 
librarians. 

JESSIE  R.  AVERY,  Branch  Librarian 


A    SEVEN    YEAR    SURVEY  25 


Business  and  Municipal  Branch 

An  important  step  was  taken  when  a  business  branch  was 
established  in  the  Municipal  Building  in  the  business  section 
of  the  city.  It  occupies  the  identical  room  where  the  old  Central 
Library  was  located  for  twenty-nine  years.  It  consists  of  one 
large  reading  room,  one  for  the  staff  and  one  for  a  typewriter 
used  by  the  staff  and  the  public. 

It  was  opened  on  the  same  day  which  marked  the  dedication 
of  the  new  Chamber  of  Commerce  building.  It  aims  to  provide 
material  helpful  to  business  men  in  their  daily  work.  Ultimately 
it  will  cover  all  the  important  industries  and  occupations  in  the 
city.  It  includes  political  economy,  capital  and  labor,  banks, 
finance,  credit,  interest,  production,  business  law,  commerce, 
trade,  transportation,  engineering,  accounting,  business  methods, 
advertising. 

On  the  municipal  side  it  deals  with  political  science,  history 
and  organization,  municipal  finance,  public  utilities,  sanitation 
and  public  health,  public  improvement,  public  safety,  education 
and  social  welfare.  This  side  is  intended  for  the  legislative, 
executive  and  administration  branches  of  the  city  government 
as  well  as  for  all  citizens  interested  in  municipal  problems. 

Other  branches  have  been  so  popular  from  the  beginning 
that  they  have  been  taxed  to  the  utmost  by  the  public  demand. 
This  branch  is  making  its  way  slowly.  Time  and  advertising 
are  making  it  fill  its  appointed  place  in  the  community.  As 
business  men  and  women  become  acquainted  with  its  resources 
they  are  realizing  its  possibilities  for  service  to  them  in  their 
everyday  business  as  well  as  to  the  city  at  large. 


DEPOSIT    STATIONS    IX    FIRE    HOUSE,    DEPARTMENT    STORE    AND    FACTORY 


A    SEVEN    YEAR    SURVEY  27 


Deposit  Stations 

A  deposit  station  is  an  accommodation  library  for  the  con- 
venience of  a  special  group  of  readers.  It  is  a  small  collection 
of  books  deposited  at  any  place  where  a  considerable  number 
of  people  come  together  frequently,  such  as  factories,  stores, 
fire  houses,  hospitals  and  other  institutions. 

The  size  of  such  a  collection  varies  from  50  to  500  volumes, 
depending  on  the  number  of  people  to  be  served  and  the  use  they 
make  of  the  deposit.  The  books  are  specially  selected  with  a 
view  to  their  broad  and  lasting  appeal.  They  are  mostly 
duplicates  of  the  best  popular  titles  in  the  branches. 

It  is  important  that  they  be  in  charge  of  a  person  who  is 
really  interested  in  them  and  who  will  make  them  accessible 
regularly  and  frequently  in  keeping  with  local  conditions.  In 
some  offices  they  are  available  at  any  time,  in  some  factories 
once  a  week  or  ofte,ner  to  employees  to  be  taken  away  for  home 
use. 

These  books  typify  the  spirit  of  the  Library  to  go  wherever 
it  can  be  of  service.  They  are  not  only  free  on  application  to 
the  Library  but  they  are  actually  going  about  the  city  knocking 
for  admission.  Many  business  firms  are  welcoming  them  as 
messengers  of  good  will  between  themselves  and  their  employees. 

They  observe  the  rule  of  hospitality  to  stay  no  longer  than 
they  are  wanted  and  the  rule  of  business  to  work  or  go  home. 
Since  the  beginning  176  deposit  stations  have  been  established 
and  89  have  been  discontinued  for  various  reasons. 

The  following  list  of  87  stations  now  in  operation  shows  the 
cosmopolitan  character  of  this  service: 

Stations  in  Operation  at  the  Close  of  1919 

2  Department  Stores 

Duffy-Powers  Co.,  Sibley,  Lindsay  &  Curr  Co. 
Year's  Circulation  7,702 

3  Hospitals 

Hahnemann,  Homeopathic,  General— (a)  Patients,  (b)  Employees 
Year's  Circulation  5,070 

1 6  Fire  Houses 

Engine  2,  5,  8,  9,  13,  16,  18,  23;  Hose  12,  1Q,  20,  21;  Truck  5,  8,  10;  Fire 
Alarm  Telegraph. 
Year's  Circulation  3,180 


28 


THE    ROCHESTER    PUBLIC    LIBRARY 


30  Industrial 

American  Woodworking  Mach.  Co. 

Art  in  Buttons 

Bausch  &  Lomb  Optical  Co. 

Beechnut  Packing  Co 

B.  R.  &  P.  Railway  Co. 

Eastman  Kodak  Co.,  Camera  Works 

Eastman  KodakCo.,  Hawk  Eye  Works 

Eastman  Kodak  Co.,  Kodak  Park 

Eastman  Kodak  Co.,  Office 

Empire  Last  Works 

General  Railway  Signal  Co. 

Hickey-Freeman  Co. 

Hubbard,  Eldridge  &  Miller 

Lawyer's  Co-operative  Pub.  Co. 

Michaels-Sterns  &  Co. 

a)  Child  Street  Plant 

b)  Clinton  Avenue  Plant 
North  East  Electric  Co. 
Pfaudler  Co. 

Rochester  Button  Co. 
Rochester  Folding  Box  Co. 
Rochester  Railway  &  Light  Co. 
Rochester  Stamping  Co. 

a)  Anderson  Avenue  Plant 

b)  Saratoga  Avenue  Plant 
Rochester  Telephone  Co. 
Rosenberg  Brothers  Co. 

M.  B.  Shants 
Sherwood  Shoe  Co. 
Taylor  Instrument  Co. 
Todd  Protectograph  Co. 
Utz  &  Dunn  Co. 
Wollensak  Optical  Co. 
Yawman  &  Erbe  Mfg.  Co. 

a)  St.  Paul  Street  Plant 

b)  Gates  Plant 

Year's  Circulation  75,206 

5  Unclassed 

City  Hall 

Normal  Training  School 

Hartford  Playground 

Police  Women's  Headquarters 

U.  of  R. 

Year's  Circulation  3,407 


12  Institutional 

C.  Y.  M.  A. 
Deaf  Mute  Institute 
Rochester  Friendly  Home 
Housekeeping  Center 
Jewish  Orphan  Home 
Monroe  County  Penitentiary 
Rochester  Home  for  Girls 
St.  Mary's  Orphan  Asylum 
St.  Patrick's  Orphan  Asylum 
Y.  M.  C.  A.  Central 
Y.  M.  C.  A.  Boys 
Y.  W.  C.  A.  Settlement 

Year's  Circulation  10,569 


8  Parochial  Schools 

Holy  Family 

Nazareth  Academy-Grammar 

Nazareth  Academy — High 

Our  Lady  of  Perpetual  Help 

St.  Andrew 

St.  Francis 

St.  John 

St.  Monica 


Year's  Circulation  16,647 


4  Public  Schools 

No.  5 
No.  42 
No.  43 
No.  44 

Year's  Circulation  5,789 


7  Sub-Branches 

No.  10 

No.  18 

No.  24 

No.  36 

No.  37 

No.  41 

Hudson 

Year's  Circulation  54,590 


A   SEVEN"    YEAR    SURVEY 


29 


Grade  Libraries 

Grade  libraries  have  existed  in  the  Rochester  Public  Schools 
for  fifteen  years.  When  the  Public  Library  was  organized  it 
assumed  the  management  of  these  libraries  on  condition  that  the 
Board  of  Education  retain  ownership  of  them  and  meet  the 
expense  of  rebinding  and  replacing  volumes.  This  arrangement 
gives  the  schools  full  control  in  matters  of  general  policy  and 
places  the  administrative  work,  especially  the  technical  part, 
in  the  hands  of  those  specially  equipped  to  do  it.  The  plan 
has  resulted  in  producing  a  thorough  co-operation  between  the 
school  and  the  library  and  in  promoting  among  teachers  and 
pupils  an  interest  in  and  responsibility  for  their  use  and  care 
which  is  essential  to  their  success. 

A  distinguishing  feature  is  the  fixed  collection  for  each  class 
room  and  grade.  Instead  of  moving  books  back  and  forth 
between  library  and  school  and  between  different  class  rooms, 
the  books  remain  stationary  while  the  procession  of  readers  goes 
by  from  term  to  term.  This  rotation  of  readers  instead  of  books 
is  more  simple  and  economical  for  both  school  and  library  and 
practical  educational  results  are  very  satisfactory. 

The  size  of  this  collection  as  a  whole  has  varied  from  year  to 
year  between  twelve  thousand  and  sixteen  thousand  volumes 
which  allows  between  20  and  35  books  for  each  of  689  class 
rooms.  The  number  drawn  for  home  use  is  1,232,986  as  shown 
below. 


Year 

1913 

1914 

1915 

1916 

1917 

1918 

1919 

Vols.  circulated 

132,592 

147,338 

154,158 

173,297 

198,091 

177,840 

201,579 

These  books  were  drawn  by  pupils  in  grades  three  to  eight 
under  the  personal  supervision  of  teachers,  who  are  intimately 
acquainted  with  the  pupils'  needs.  In  each  grade  they  are  the 
best  books  carefully  selected  with  regard  to  their  fitness  for  that 
particular  grade.  Educators  are  laying  more  and  more  stress 
on  the  immediate  value  of  this  reading  in  the  class  room  and  in 
the  home  as  well  as  its  ultimate  effect  in  the  development  of 
character.  By  fostering  the  reading  habit  among  children  in 
the  most  formative  period  of  life  the  public  schools  through  these 
grade  libraries  are  performing  a  service  of  the  utmost  importance. 


A    SEVEN    YEAR    SURVEY  31 

Playgrouna  Libraries 

When  the  Bureau  of  Playgrounds  in  the  Department  of  Parks 
was  created  its  first  outline  included  playground  libraries.  Some 
of  these  had  already  been  started  in  several  places  by  three 
different  authorities.  The  new  bureau  at  once  recognized  their 
value  and  arranged  to  extend  and  systematize  them.  The  book 
collection  was  enlarged,  story  telling  added  to  the  program  and  a 
librarian  employed. 

The  books  were  prepared  for  circulation  at  the  Public  Library 
and  under  its  supervision  the  administration  work  is  still  done 
there.  In  this  way  the  Bureau  as  owner  of  the  libraries  de- 
termines their  extent  and  location,  the  physical  and  other  con- 
ditions under  which  books  are  issued,  and  their  co-ordination 
with  other  playground  activities,  while  the  Library  serves  as 
consulting  expert. 

The  playground  collection  contains  1,431  volumes.  During 
the  past  year  books  were  issued  at  11  playgrounds  and  story 
hours  conducted  every  week  during  the  summer  season  and  at 
7  of  them  throughout  the  year.  At  7  additional  playgrounds 
only  story  hours  were  conducted  through  the  summer.  The 
annual  circulation  record  is: 


Year 

1915 

1916 

1917 

1918 

1919 

Total 

Books  issued 

1    4,923 

10,651 

11,375 

11,808 

16,944      55,701 

Publications 

The  publications  of  the  Library  in  addition  to  annual  reports 
and  the  union  list  of  serials  consist  mainly  of  brief  book  lists, 
pamphlets,  cards  and  slips  of  information  and  advertisement. 
In  the  Library  offices  extensive  use  is  made  of  the  multigraph 
for  printing  office  forms  and  also  public  notices,  letters,  and 
programs. 

Newspaper  Publicity 

The  newspapers  of  the  city  are  assisting  splendidly  in  bringing 
the  library  to  the  attention  of  the  people.  Through  the  publica- 
tion of  lists  of  new  books,  reading  lists  on  special  subjects, 
descriptions  of  branch  quarters,  feature  stories  and  appeals  for 
reading  matter  for  soldiers  they  have  rendered  valuable  public 
service.  Two  large  volumes  of  mounted  newspaper  clippings 
testify  to  their  generous  and  public  spirited  co-operation. 


A    SEVEN    YEAR    SURVEY  33 


War  Work 

The  Library  promoted  reading  on  the  history  and  problems 
of  the  war  by  issuing  special  lists  and  by  providing  special 
material  on  such  topics  as  food  production  and  conservation. 
It  co-operated  in  the  various  campaigns,  Liberty  Loans,  Red 
Cross,  military  census,  Community  Chest  and  in  the  sale  of 
thrift  stamps.  It  assisted  in  the  distribution  and  display  of 
posters,  pamphlets  and  the  like  and  also  made  a  collection  of  such 
material,  especially  of  that  issued  locally. 

Rochester  made  a  threefold  contribution  to  the  war  work 
carried  on  by  the  American  Library  Association.  This  consisted 
of  money,  services  and  books.  No  campaigns  were  conducted 
for  raising  funds.  The  first  year  $7,500  was  devoted  to  this 
purpose  by  those  in  charge  of  the  highly  successful  Y.  M.  C.  A. 
drive  and  the  second  year  $25,625  was  received  from  the  Com- 
munity Chest. 

The  Librarian  served  as  Camp  Librarian  three  months  at 
Camp  Wadsworth,  Spartanburg,  South  Carolina;  three  months 
at  Camp  Beauregard,  Alexandria,  Texas;  and  three  months 
at  the  Marine  Camp,  Parris  Island,  South  Carolina.  In  each 
case  the  city  provided  the  Librarian's  salary  in  accordance  with 
the  liberal  policy  of  other  large  cities. 

In  its  appeals  to  the  people  for  books  the  Library  was 
enthusiastically  assisted  by  the  schools,  the  scouts,  the  Junior 
Red  Cross  and  the  Fire  Department.  Loads  of  books  were 
brought  to  Exposition  Park,  where  they  were  assorted,  grouped, 
packed  and  shipped  to  camps,  dispatch  offices  and  some  to  local 
military  establishments.  Blank  scrap  books  were  bought  and 
distributed  to  patrons  who  volunteered  to  fill  them  in  accordance 
with  library  specifications.  Of  these  2,383  were  sent  to  camps 
and  hospitals.  The  books  selected  and  sent,  after  thorough 
weeding  out  of  unsuitable  material,  numbered  33,014  volumes 
and  many  boxes  of  magazines. 

Of  these  book  campaigns  there  were  three  in  three  successive 
years.  Between  the  first  and  the  last  an  intermittent  stream 
of  books  flowed  from  generous  homes  to  the  Library  and  thence 
to  the  men  in  the  service.  It  was  a  fine  illustration  of  the  spirit 
of  giving  implying  a  recognition  of  the  power  of  books  as  an  aid 
in  winning  the  war. 


A    SEVEN    YEAR    SURVEY 


35 


Rochester  Libraries 


A  list  of  Rochester  libraries  was  included  in  the  first  annual 
report  of  the  Public  Library.  Eight  additional  libraries,  each 
having  one  thousand  volumes  or  more,  are  included  in  this  list, 
making  a  total  of  22  libraries  containing  455,875  volumes. 

Volumes 
112,966 
1,600 
9,215 
5,200 
1,800 
1,000 
2,060 
85,363 
79,944 
5,619 
6,000 
47,250 
18,000 
4,858 
9,000 
48,500 
5,000 
3,500 
1,000 
1,000 
1,000 
6,000 


Library 

Rochester  Public 

Rochester  Department  of  Engineering 
East  High  School 
West  High  School 
Washington  Junior  High  School 
Jefferson  Junior  High  School 
Normal  Training  School 
Reynolds  Library 
University  of  Rochester 
Rochester  Academy  of  Science 
Rochester  Academy  of  Medicine 
Rochester  Theological  Seminary 
St.  Bernard's  Seminary 
Mechanics  Institute 
Rochester  School  for  the  Deaf 
Appellate  Division,  Law- 
Powers  Law 

Rochester  Historical  Society 
Rochester  Municipal  Museum 
Chamber  of  Commerce 
Bausch  &  Lomb  Optical  Co. 
Eastman  Kodak  Company 

Total 


Librarian 

William  F.  Yust 

Irene  D.  Winans 
Margaret  E.  Weaver 
Ruth  Norton 
Blanche  Castleman 
Mildred  R.  Forward 
Anne  R.  Collins 
D.  B.  Gilchrist 
Alice  Harris  Brown 
G.  A.  Maloney 
Glen  B.  Ewell 
P.  Libert 
Eleanor  M.  Gleason 

Fred  E.  Rosbrook 
Laura  M.  Gallery 
Edward  D.  Putnam 
Edward  D.  Putnam 


Gertrude  Reissrnann 


455,875 


A  spirit  of  co-operation  between  these  libraries  has  been 
fostered  through  consultation,  through  the  organization  of  a 
club  consisting  of  the  librarians  engaged  therein,  and  notably 
through  the  preparation  and  publication  of  the  union  list  of 
serials. 


36  THE    ROCHESTER    PUBLIC    LIRRARY 


Union  List  of  Serials 

In  the  first  annual  report  of  the  Library  attention  was  called 
to  the  fact  that  there  are  in  Rochester  many  back  files  as  well  as 
current  issues  of  periodicals.  These  contain  a  wealth  of  informa- 
tion on  almost  every  phase  of  knowledge. 

Indexes  to  these  files  were  numerous,  so  that  references  to 
magazines  could  be  found  in  abundance,  but  where  to  find  the 
magazines  was  not  so  easy. 

One  of  the  first  tasks  which  the  Public  Library  set  for  itself 
was  to  promote  co-operation  between  the  various  libraries  of  the 
city  to  the  end  that  their  resources  might  be  made  generally 
known  and  utilized  to  the  fullest  possible  extent  by  the  people  of 
Rochester.  The  "Union  List  of  serials"  is  a  contribution  to  that 
end.  It  aims  to  answer  the  question  whether  a  given  periodical 
of  past  or  present  date  is  to  be  found  in  the  city  and  in  which 
libraries  it  may  be  consulted. 

The  plan  wras  launched  under  the  auspices  of  the  Rochester 
District  Library  Club.  Each  library  submitted  a  card  list  of 
its  own  material,  which  formed  the  basis  of  the  list.  Not  much 
progress  was  made  however  until  the  entire  responsibility  for 
the  undertaking  was  assumed  by  the  Public  Library  and  a  special 
assistant  employed  to  do  the  work.  It  has  required  much  care- 
ful attention.  The  result  is  a  neat  volume  of  147  pages  which 
will  be  of  great  value  not  only  to  special  students  and  inves- 
tigators but  also  to  all  readers  on  current  problems. 

Library  Needs 

Buildings  are  needed  for  a  Central  Library  and  for  branches. 
No  effort  is  being  spared  to  make  the  present  branch  quarters 
attractive  and  effective.  As  temporary  expedients  they  are  a 
success,  but  their  limitations  are  many  and  they  should  not  be 
allowed  indefinitely  to  stand  as  an  illustration  of  the  Rochester 
quality  expressed  in  libraries. 

The  need  of  a  Central  Library  has  been  emphasized  for  seven 
years.  There  should  be  a  magnificent  building  located  near  the 
center  of  the  city,  which  will  provide  on  a  large  scale  for  books, 
readers  and  administration,  which  will  house  a  great  book  col- 
lection in  a  fire  proof  stack,  which  will  contain  ample  rooms  for 
open  shelves,  for  reading  and  reference,  for  private  study,  for 
special  departments,  rooms  for  children,  for  newspapers,  for  the 


A    SEVEN   YEAR   SURVEY  37 

blind,  and  for  all  those  allied  features  which  make  the  Library 
the  center  of  the  city's  intellectual  activities. 

"We  plume  ourselves,"  said  the  Democrat  &  Chronicle  three 
years  ago,  "on  the  steady  growth  of  our  manufacturing  interests, 
on  the  enterprise  of  our  merchants,  on  our  park  system,  on  our 
schools,  on  the  extent  and  beauty  of  our  residence  district.  We 
agitate  constantly  for  better  street  car  service.  We  grumble 
over  the  lack  of  a  parallel  street.  On  the  subject  of  an  adequate 
central  public  library  we  are  as  mute  as  a  stuffed  owl.  This 
apparent  lack  of  interest,  it  is  to  be  hoped,  is  due  to  despair 
rather  than  indifference. 

"If  it  is  due  to  despair,  an  awakening  of  public  interest  is 
possible.  If  it  is  due  to  indifference,  goodness  knows  what  can 
be  done.  The  subject  has  repeatedly  been  urged  upon  public 
attention  without  eliciting  the  slightest  visible  response.  But 
so  long  as  Mr.  Yust  does  not  grow  faint-hearted,  hope  will  still 
linger  in  the  breasts  of  those  who  realize  what  an  impetus  a 
good  library  would  give  to  the  intellectual  side  of  civic  life,  and 
what  a  boon  it  would  be  in  directing  into  proper  channels  the 
intellectual  activities  of  the  growing  generation." 

The  mental  picture  of  the  Central  Library  is  not  so  clear 
as  it  was  years  ago  but  the  vision  has  not  vanished. 

Respectfully  submitted 

WILLIAM  F.  YUST,  Librarian 


38  THE    ROCHESTER    PUBLIC    LIBRARY 

Library  Staff 

Administration 

WILLIAM  F.  YUST Librarian 

JULIA  L.  SAUER Librarian's  Secretary 

ADA  A.  SLARKS Office  Assistant 

Book  Order  and  Catalog  Department 

GRACE  B.  MCCARTNEY,  Head 
ALICE  E.  MILLS  MARIE  E.  JONES 

ALICE  I.  DEBUTTS  ANNA  MARTIN 

Extension  Department  and  Work  with 

Children  and  Schools 
ADELINE  B.  ZACHERT,  Head 

EDNA  E.  BAYER  GRACE  EYSVOGEL 

MABEL  TRUESDELL  MABEL  R.  STEWART 

MARIE  W.  GOLER  VERA  VAN  ARSDALE 

Exposition  Park  Branch 
CAROLYN  M.  CASTLE,  Branch  Librarian 
MILDRED  L.  BENEDICT 

Genesee  Branch 

MARION  D.  MOSHER,  Branch  Librarian 
ETHEL  M.  HERRON  MARJORIE  TAYLOR 

Lincoln  Branch 

JESSIE  R.  AVERY,  Branch  Librarian 
JESSIE  D.  HOLLOWAY  MARY  L.  SAMSON 

Monroe  Branch 

ADA  J.  WHITE,  Branch  Librarian 

GLADYS  J.  HADLEY  MARIE  MEULENDYKE 

CLARA  E.  PULVER 

Goodman  Street  Branch 
MARCELLA  FLYNN,  Branch  Librarian 
EDNA  E.  PARDEE  EVELYN  SEYMOUR 

Charlotte  Branch 
ANNA  B.  COLWELL,  Branch  Librarian 

Business  Branch 

GLADYS  E.  LOVE,  Branch  Librarian 
HAZEL  D.  LEONARD 


A    SEVEN    YEAR   SURVEY  39 

Directory  of  Branch  Libraries 

Arranged  in  order  of  opening 
Administration  Headquarters,  Exposition  Park 

Exposition  Park  Branch 
Exposition  Park 

Opened  October,  1912 

In  City  Building  Number  9 

Volumes  15,682 

Year's  circulation  94,370 

Genesee  Branch 

707  Main  Street  West 

Opened  October,  1913 
In  rented  quarters 
Moved  March,  1917 
Volumes  14,941 
Year's  circulation  139,348 

Monroe  Branch 

265-271  Monroe  Avenue 

Opened  September,  1914 
Enlarged  Jan.  1916,  and  Dec.  1918 
Volumes  14,030 
Year's  circulation  172,843 

Lincoln  Branch 

Joseph  Avenue  and  Sellinger  Street 
Opened  September,  1915 
In  rented  quarters 
Volumes  15,012 
Year's  circulation  123,475 

Business  Branch 

13  South  Fitzhugh  Street 
Opened  October,  1917 
In  Municipal  Building 
Volumes  2,979 

Goodman  Street  Branch 
511  North  Goodman  Street 
Opened  October,  1917 
In  rented  quarters 
Volumes  11,202 
Year's  circulation  134,631 

Charlotte  Branch 
Stutson  Street 

Opened  September,  1919 
In  Fire  House 
Volumes   2,173 


I  am  the  recorder  of  the  ages. 

I  speak  every  language  under  the  sun 
and  enter  every  corner  of  the  earth. 

I  bring  information,  inspiration  and 
recreation  to  all  mankind. 

1  am  the  enemy  of  ignorance  and 
slavery,  the  ally  of  enlightenment  and 
liberty. 

I  am  always  ready  to  commune  with 
man,  to  quicken  his  being,  to  spur  him 
on,  to  show  him  the  way. 

I  treat  all  persons  alike,  regardless  of 
race,  color,  creed  or  condition. 

I  have  power  to  stretch  man's  vision, 
to  deepen  his  feeling,  to  better  his  busi- 
ness and  to  enrich  his  life. 

I  am  a  true  friend,  a  wise  counsellor 
and  a  faithful  guide. 

I  am  silent  as  gravitation,  pliant  and 
powerful  as  the  electric  current  and 
enduring  as  the  everlasting  hills. 


I  am  the  Book 


